Today, I've been feeling a bit blue. Just realising that the three days in between Christmas and New Year are the most useless days to be at work. Maybe I shoulda taken all of them off and jetted off to somewhere nice. Then again, got no money to do such things right now. Besides, good friends are arriving tomorrow so maybe I'll get rid of my blues too.
I better take off for now. It's about lunch time and I think that I need an alcoholic beverage to keep me going through today.
Damn, I just realised that I could have possibly stayed home and work from there but hey, can't have it all can you? Right, I'm off. Until next year...
Friday, December 29, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Long time coming...
... and now it's here.
I really should not dare to start this by claiming that it's been a long time since anyone has posted something. So I won't. Instead, I'll round up some of the events taken place during the autumn.
We had several visitors in our temporary countryside residence. Xinola's aunt came all the way from Mexico which was really nice and I do think that she enjoyed it as well. Everything was, well, new for her and at the mature age she'll be sure to remember this trip for a very long time.
My brother also popped in for a long weekend and we took the opportunity to go to a football match and a concert. I think it was all definitely worth it and he enjoyed himself for sure too.
Lastly, my parents also visited us for four days. They were lucky with the weather and so we enjoyed the countryside and some nice pub snacks outdoors when ever we had an opportunity, which was quite often....
These visits obviously were the culmination points for the autumn but we have also just completed yet another move to another house. The countryside was nice and all, but if I hear the word character associated with any property I'll be sure to check whether that really means that the house is lovely and all or if you'll be needing your winter clothes to wear indoors instead. The estate agents, in their vast wisdom, and greed, have decided that people want to live in houses that have a beam or two and a fireplace and these places they gracefully label with the word character. I've come to a conclusion that this only refers to how cold the house actually is (bloody freezing!) and that you're very likely to be hitting your head in the aforementioned beams more than often enough. So, not really my cup of tea as the locals often mutter.
The new house is, at least, noticeably warmer than the previous two properties we've lived in. This makes for a very welcome change. No more woolly hats indoors etc. Nothing so good thoug that there wouldn't be any negatives. We've come to acquire a landline as this seems to be a necessity to get a broadband connection for internet. Unless you live in an area that has NTL/Telewest cabling, you're required to find an alternative provider and for this purpose you need a landline. £11/month is not of bankruptcy calibre, but sure is enough to make my blood boil. And, we even haven't found an ISP yet. My employer has just announced that they'll have a service launch in January for broadband so maybe we'll be ok once that goes live and save a few pennies that way. Time will tell.
I've been really busy at work and that really has taken its toll on me. Driving, sitting in the traffic on the M25, all pastimes that I have slowly started to loathe in the name of work. I actually used to like driving, a lot. Now it's become one of those things that does not associate well with freedom and ability to go where one wants. Blah... I need a shrubbery! Ni!!!
Christmas arrived, and went. We took it easy together with Xinola. No big family hassle, nothing but great food and nice wine and the best possible company one can have. Nice.
Today is actually our second anniversary as a married couple and this calls for some bubbly. We bought some from Epernay from the house of Mercier last year and now it is time to test the demi-sec. I'll report on this later...
New Year's eve is also on its way and we're having a couple of guests arriving this weekend to celebrate its arrival. We haven't seen Mick and jULES for some time so I hope we'll all remember something from this gathering... Maybe I'll report on this later too.
For now, I'm done with pouring my ink out and wish anyone who might wander on this site a Happy New Year from Electric Vihta.
I really should not dare to start this by claiming that it's been a long time since anyone has posted something. So I won't. Instead, I'll round up some of the events taken place during the autumn.
We had several visitors in our temporary countryside residence. Xinola's aunt came all the way from Mexico which was really nice and I do think that she enjoyed it as well. Everything was, well, new for her and at the mature age she'll be sure to remember this trip for a very long time.
My brother also popped in for a long weekend and we took the opportunity to go to a football match and a concert. I think it was all definitely worth it and he enjoyed himself for sure too.
Lastly, my parents also visited us for four days. They were lucky with the weather and so we enjoyed the countryside and some nice pub snacks outdoors when ever we had an opportunity, which was quite often....
These visits obviously were the culmination points for the autumn but we have also just completed yet another move to another house. The countryside was nice and all, but if I hear the word character associated with any property I'll be sure to check whether that really means that the house is lovely and all or if you'll be needing your winter clothes to wear indoors instead. The estate agents, in their vast wisdom, and greed, have decided that people want to live in houses that have a beam or two and a fireplace and these places they gracefully label with the word character. I've come to a conclusion that this only refers to how cold the house actually is (bloody freezing!) and that you're very likely to be hitting your head in the aforementioned beams more than often enough. So, not really my cup of tea as the locals often mutter.
The new house is, at least, noticeably warmer than the previous two properties we've lived in. This makes for a very welcome change. No more woolly hats indoors etc. Nothing so good thoug that there wouldn't be any negatives. We've come to acquire a landline as this seems to be a necessity to get a broadband connection for internet. Unless you live in an area that has NTL/Telewest cabling, you're required to find an alternative provider and for this purpose you need a landline. £11/month is not of bankruptcy calibre, but sure is enough to make my blood boil. And, we even haven't found an ISP yet. My employer has just announced that they'll have a service launch in January for broadband so maybe we'll be ok once that goes live and save a few pennies that way. Time will tell.
I've been really busy at work and that really has taken its toll on me. Driving, sitting in the traffic on the M25, all pastimes that I have slowly started to loathe in the name of work. I actually used to like driving, a lot. Now it's become one of those things that does not associate well with freedom and ability to go where one wants. Blah... I need a shrubbery! Ni!!!
Christmas arrived, and went. We took it easy together with Xinola. No big family hassle, nothing but great food and nice wine and the best possible company one can have. Nice.
Today is actually our second anniversary as a married couple and this calls for some bubbly. We bought some from Epernay from the house of Mercier last year and now it is time to test the demi-sec. I'll report on this later...
New Year's eve is also on its way and we're having a couple of guests arriving this weekend to celebrate its arrival. We haven't seen Mick and jULES for some time so I hope we'll all remember something from this gathering... Maybe I'll report on this later too.
For now, I'm done with pouring my ink out and wish anyone who might wander on this site a Happy New Year from Electric Vihta.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
to be a druid....
As briely intimated on this blog not so long ago, Stonehenge to me is truly a bunch of rocks. Say, just for an example, that I'd been a druid a little good while ago, I might have been willing to alter my take on the topic. Maybe this place indeed is a mystic place where the weird and the wonderful materialised and people got enlightened with the ways of the magic.
Yahdi-yah and blah blah blah. I've said it. Merci beacoup!
On another note, and still referring to the previous entry by my beloved Xinola, it is really nice to receive some family visits. You might want to ask me later and in particular after the visits, if it was such a fulfilling experience. For the moment being, nevertheless, I'm thrilled to bits.
Xinola's aunt will be an interesting case. Not least because we dont share a common lingua but also for the reasons outlined below. My personal perceptions and feelings towards England have changed so dramatically within the duration of my 'visit' that I'm not sure what and how I could elaborate. For Xinola's aunt, however, we'll be looking towards showing some real English things and not just London. One should not misread this, I actually really like London, at least to visit every now and then that is...
Then the following entrance to our little house on the prairie will be my brother, contemplating his passage through the years. 40 of them, to be exact. My plan was to take him to the Kop (if you dont know what this is, there is no need to know) but this has proved to be a formidable task and in this case a task of a financial kind. 200 pounds for a bloody ticket!!!!! Me-not-get-robbed-in-clear-daylight. Honestly, you can get these cheaper but only if you belong to a supporters club, are an CEO of a MNC, or just happen to be in a right place at the right time. Unfortunately for my brother, netiher of this applies to me. I'm sure we'll have a good time still and we'll be able to make the most of it.
My retired parents have also decided that it is a good idea to see the countryside in England. This, me thinks, should be quite straight forward. They are retired, they know how to spend time without really having anything to do. That's why I'm not worried. We'll just have to wait and see.
Then there is something else. Recently I've been going through a lot of emotions. I need to figure out how to go ahead with my working life. Work really sucks and even if you're getting paid and all, it still sucks. How could I find a passion for something and then the will to pursue it? What do I need to do realise that this has to be done? All questions, no answers... Shit.
I'll leave it there.
Yahdi-yah and blah blah blah. I've said it. Merci beacoup!
On another note, and still referring to the previous entry by my beloved Xinola, it is really nice to receive some family visits. You might want to ask me later and in particular after the visits, if it was such a fulfilling experience. For the moment being, nevertheless, I'm thrilled to bits.
Xinola's aunt will be an interesting case. Not least because we dont share a common lingua but also for the reasons outlined below. My personal perceptions and feelings towards England have changed so dramatically within the duration of my 'visit' that I'm not sure what and how I could elaborate. For Xinola's aunt, however, we'll be looking towards showing some real English things and not just London. One should not misread this, I actually really like London, at least to visit every now and then that is...
Then the following entrance to our little house on the prairie will be my brother, contemplating his passage through the years. 40 of them, to be exact. My plan was to take him to the Kop (if you dont know what this is, there is no need to know) but this has proved to be a formidable task and in this case a task of a financial kind. 200 pounds for a bloody ticket!!!!! Me-not-get-robbed-in-clear-daylight. Honestly, you can get these cheaper but only if you belong to a supporters club, are an CEO of a MNC, or just happen to be in a right place at the right time. Unfortunately for my brother, netiher of this applies to me. I'm sure we'll have a good time still and we'll be able to make the most of it.
My retired parents have also decided that it is a good idea to see the countryside in England. This, me thinks, should be quite straight forward. They are retired, they know how to spend time without really having anything to do. That's why I'm not worried. We'll just have to wait and see.
Then there is something else. Recently I've been going through a lot of emotions. I need to figure out how to go ahead with my working life. Work really sucks and even if you're getting paid and all, it still sucks. How could I find a passion for something and then the will to pursue it? What do I need to do realise that this has to be done? All questions, no answers... Shit.
I'll leave it there.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Another Autumn Begins
This autumn is bringing some new things over. We are living in the countryside, which seems to suit me quite well since i am a kindda loner. We are expecting a few visitors to come over, my aunt from Mexico (who does not know a word of English, truly); Nygard's bro to celebrate his 40 at a footy match; and my parents-in-law who have time to do anything they can because they are retired. That's cool I guess.
My aunt is coming only for a week, and she is arriving this weekend. She has never travelled outside her home country, so i cannot begin to imagine how she actually feels about going all the way across the pond just to come to an island. Well, she does not see it this way, that's a fact. She is coming to Europe, to London. Hum, we begin there with some misunderstandings, in a way she is coming to Europe, but not really. On the other hand, she will be visiting London, but she is not 'coming to London' solely.
I don't know if you have had any relatives from abroad with little understanding of places, who enjoy misplacing the setting where you actually live. Yes, I know i am being silly and rigid by giving attention to this, but when I have actually gone home and met friends of my relatives and they had asked me 'how is your life in London', i said that I don't live in London and then they asked 'where then?', and the interest is lost. It is like meeting someone who confuse you with a famous person and then realises you are just not the person and drops the attention off you. Well, not that it matters, but it happens. It's an ackward gain and loss of unwanted attention.
Yes, many lay people do only equalise England to London. Unless the person knows about football or history or music, which can make a conversation slightly better and they can be able to recognise that there are a couple of other places of interest in this country. Really, through the years it has been a process of learning that there is no need to bother oneself with explaining to people that England as well as London are more than just the Big Ben and the deceased princess Di. There are pubs, pop music, fish&chips, the controversial countryside, chavs, pop culture, TK Maxx, terrible junk food culture, celebrities, Misters Blair and Brown, Ales, did I mention pop culture? Better skip this for the average tourist. They don't want to know about England, they want to visit England and take as many pictures as possible to show that they had been in 'the sightseeings and tourist attractions you must visit'.
This means that with my aunt I will be going for the first time ever to the Buckingham and Kesington Palaces and will take a london tourist bus. Gosh, oh gosh. Hahahahahaha, that's all i think about me and this adventure. I wanted to top it up with a quick visit to Stonehenge, but Nygard looked at me weirdly and told me off that idea with "it's just a bunch of rocks". I agree with him, but well, everybody who travels to England gets to go to bloody Stonehenge, but not my aunt. She is gonna go to the East Anglian countryside, which we like quite a lot.
Other thing that is finally coming up for me is the feedback over my thesis draft!!! This week i'll learn about what needs to be done and will get my hands on it as soon as 'humanly' possible.
My aunt is coming only for a week, and she is arriving this weekend. She has never travelled outside her home country, so i cannot begin to imagine how she actually feels about going all the way across the pond just to come to an island. Well, she does not see it this way, that's a fact. She is coming to Europe, to London. Hum, we begin there with some misunderstandings, in a way she is coming to Europe, but not really. On the other hand, she will be visiting London, but she is not 'coming to London' solely.
I don't know if you have had any relatives from abroad with little understanding of places, who enjoy misplacing the setting where you actually live. Yes, I know i am being silly and rigid by giving attention to this, but when I have actually gone home and met friends of my relatives and they had asked me 'how is your life in London', i said that I don't live in London and then they asked 'where then?', and the interest is lost. It is like meeting someone who confuse you with a famous person and then realises you are just not the person and drops the attention off you. Well, not that it matters, but it happens. It's an ackward gain and loss of unwanted attention.
Yes, many lay people do only equalise England to London. Unless the person knows about football or history or music, which can make a conversation slightly better and they can be able to recognise that there are a couple of other places of interest in this country. Really, through the years it has been a process of learning that there is no need to bother oneself with explaining to people that England as well as London are more than just the Big Ben and the deceased princess Di. There are pubs, pop music, fish&chips, the controversial countryside, chavs, pop culture, TK Maxx, terrible junk food culture, celebrities, Misters Blair and Brown, Ales, did I mention pop culture? Better skip this for the average tourist. They don't want to know about England, they want to visit England and take as many pictures as possible to show that they had been in 'the sightseeings and tourist attractions you must visit'.
This means that with my aunt I will be going for the first time ever to the Buckingham and Kesington Palaces and will take a london tourist bus. Gosh, oh gosh. Hahahahahaha, that's all i think about me and this adventure. I wanted to top it up with a quick visit to Stonehenge, but Nygard looked at me weirdly and told me off that idea with "it's just a bunch of rocks". I agree with him, but well, everybody who travels to England gets to go to bloody Stonehenge, but not my aunt. She is gonna go to the East Anglian countryside, which we like quite a lot.
Other thing that is finally coming up for me is the feedback over my thesis draft!!! This week i'll learn about what needs to be done and will get my hands on it as soon as 'humanly' possible.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Moving on
Lately no one has had time to add communiquees into this blog. It is not that we are experiencing coma, it is just that we haven't given ourselves time. On the other hand, there have been few things going on in my life which haven't allowed me time to sit down and to write about anything.
After a fantastic summer trip to Suomi, on the next day back in England, we had to move house to the country side. This should last for a few months only, however it implied so many arrangements and dealings with landlady, new people, utilities companies, finding our ways in the new area, etcetera.
An interesting thing was not having internet at home. I first thougth i was going to die without interenet, how could i live without being able to communicate? Well, the telly gave enough info so i didn't need the internet for that. The contryside gives the necessary relaxation to look for that in the internet. And the little need to work on the PhD made me realise that at any given time, i could easily give up internet.
Today has been the first day i have the connection at home. And just because i need to do some work, it is that i have had the pc on since the morning.
Being without internet at home while being at home without going out for a week, taught me something. That although internet is really handy, it is not as necessary as I first thougth through my own experience of it.
The only thing i felt a bit funny about is not being able to read the news. You might think that i am a lazy cow not buying the papers from a newsagent. However, my neighbour village does not have a newsagent. 30minutes walk just for a pub and a deli shop, which is fine with me at the moment.
I have also lost one of my sources of income. It was to be expected, but i was holding the hope of keeping it just for the money. This means that money-wise things will become a bit stretch.
Things to wait for during the autumn imply mainly, submitting the PhD thesis and teaching. Nygard wants, for once, to do a couple of trips, and now i feel like i can't do anything anymore. No money, no will to travel, just want to get done with the PhD. This sometimes blinds me from the pleasures of the life i have been forming with Nygard. Come on, now i don't even care for theatre, not even much film watching.
I am waiting, have been waiting since mid July for feedback on my first draft. That is all that is in my head. In order to move on I need to get started with the final work, and I don't even know how much time this will take me. But I am still waiting to be able to do so. Meanwhile, time elapses...
Moons change, weather evolves, life begins and ends, scientists discover a cure for skin cancer, the crocodile hunter died while shooting one of his documentaries, Nygard is semi-ill, my aunt is planning to come over for a super-fast visit, a friend is about to leave England for good, deers have begun running on a field nearby.
I want to move on with the cycle too
After a fantastic summer trip to Suomi, on the next day back in England, we had to move house to the country side. This should last for a few months only, however it implied so many arrangements and dealings with landlady, new people, utilities companies, finding our ways in the new area, etcetera.
An interesting thing was not having internet at home. I first thougth i was going to die without interenet, how could i live without being able to communicate? Well, the telly gave enough info so i didn't need the internet for that. The contryside gives the necessary relaxation to look for that in the internet. And the little need to work on the PhD made me realise that at any given time, i could easily give up internet.
Today has been the first day i have the connection at home. And just because i need to do some work, it is that i have had the pc on since the morning.
Being without internet at home while being at home without going out for a week, taught me something. That although internet is really handy, it is not as necessary as I first thougth through my own experience of it.
The only thing i felt a bit funny about is not being able to read the news. You might think that i am a lazy cow not buying the papers from a newsagent. However, my neighbour village does not have a newsagent. 30minutes walk just for a pub and a deli shop, which is fine with me at the moment.
I have also lost one of my sources of income. It was to be expected, but i was holding the hope of keeping it just for the money. This means that money-wise things will become a bit stretch.
Things to wait for during the autumn imply mainly, submitting the PhD thesis and teaching. Nygard wants, for once, to do a couple of trips, and now i feel like i can't do anything anymore. No money, no will to travel, just want to get done with the PhD. This sometimes blinds me from the pleasures of the life i have been forming with Nygard. Come on, now i don't even care for theatre, not even much film watching.
I am waiting, have been waiting since mid July for feedback on my first draft. That is all that is in my head. In order to move on I need to get started with the final work, and I don't even know how much time this will take me. But I am still waiting to be able to do so. Meanwhile, time elapses...
Moons change, weather evolves, life begins and ends, scientists discover a cure for skin cancer, the crocodile hunter died while shooting one of his documentaries, Nygard is semi-ill, my aunt is planning to come over for a super-fast visit, a friend is about to leave England for good, deers have begun running on a field nearby.
I want to move on with the cycle too
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Call it 'El Nino', 'Global Warming', whatever...
... and these images from Mexico City yesterday, say it all. As we know Mexico is a country with more or less different climates through its different regions, but it mainly enjoys of tropical weather. As part of the different climates, hail storms and snowfall take place, respectively, during the summer and spring in high places such as the diverse sierras of the country and Mexico City. Yesterday, instead of the normal summer rainfall, a heavy hail storm in combination with a rainfall happened in the city and these images are really unbelievable.
The images are borrowed from the newspaper 'El Universal' online: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/noticias.html
Friday, July 28, 2006
Hot, hot, hot...
Yes, it's been a scorching summer so far. Not that we should complain I guess. In fact, it has been so nice and warm for the past weeks that the summer really feels like summer. I just got back from the pub after having lunch outside in the beer garden and felt the sun burning on my back. Absolutely fantastic.
We are about to go for a little holiday to Finland and our plan is to do a little hiking and perhaps some white water rafting as well. Eastern Finland is a naturally very beautiful place and my memories are so distant that I'm very excited about our little trip. Of course, there's also the compulsory family time etc to be included but hey, can't really avoid that altogether can you.
Another little treat for me will be meeting with my old football team again. We'll be getting together in my old hometown and then playing a friendly against another local team I think. After getting totally trashed by some 4th division fat club, we head towards the main event - sauna, drinks and a meal. Everybody's been asked to bring some old photos and videos of our games so I think this could be hilarious. I'm just hoping that everybody's still doing well.
Anyway, that's that about the holiday. It just needs to arrive now...
Workwise it's really been mad. Entire June was as busy as it gets here and it proved a challenge again. Now, I'm faced with a new kind of challenge, if I accept it that is. My boss has offered me to take one of our departments under my direct management and obviously this would come with a little pay rise too. Tempting but also very challenging as they are struggling a bit in this department under current management. Maybe this could be a chance to use some creativity and imagination to bail them out of the situation they've gotten into. We'll see about this later as I'll have to make my decision early next week.
So, long time that I've written and the usual blah blah about being lazy kind of applies. However, I'll just hold to these thoughts for now and get back to you once I've decided on my near future.
'til then...
We are about to go for a little holiday to Finland and our plan is to do a little hiking and perhaps some white water rafting as well. Eastern Finland is a naturally very beautiful place and my memories are so distant that I'm very excited about our little trip. Of course, there's also the compulsory family time etc to be included but hey, can't really avoid that altogether can you.
Another little treat for me will be meeting with my old football team again. We'll be getting together in my old hometown and then playing a friendly against another local team I think. After getting totally trashed by some 4th division fat club, we head towards the main event - sauna, drinks and a meal. Everybody's been asked to bring some old photos and videos of our games so I think this could be hilarious. I'm just hoping that everybody's still doing well.
Anyway, that's that about the holiday. It just needs to arrive now...
Workwise it's really been mad. Entire June was as busy as it gets here and it proved a challenge again. Now, I'm faced with a new kind of challenge, if I accept it that is. My boss has offered me to take one of our departments under my direct management and obviously this would come with a little pay rise too. Tempting but also very challenging as they are struggling a bit in this department under current management. Maybe this could be a chance to use some creativity and imagination to bail them out of the situation they've gotten into. We'll see about this later as I'll have to make my decision early next week.
So, long time that I've written and the usual blah blah about being lazy kind of applies. However, I'll just hold to these thoughts for now and get back to you once I've decided on my near future.
'til then...
Thursday, July 06, 2006
La Lucha Libre
Have you ever come across Mexican free-style fighting (lucha libre)? For instance, with El Santo Enmascarado de Plata (The Silver Masked Saint)
If not, you could try in your spare time to learn about it, however i am not sure how much of reading could help you to understand what this is all about. In Mexico la lucha libre is a whole cult sport in which semi-fit and less-than-fit men fight against each other wearing customs. Over four decades ago, if i am not wrong, the cult for the luchadores (fighters) was so big that many films were made out of their adventures.
Yeah, fighters sci-fi films, such as El Santo Vs the Monsters, El Santo and Blue Demon agains the Vampire Women, El Santo Vs the Werewolf, etc. etc. I think that when I was a child, I spent the afternoons watching those films.
Ok, even if you haven't come across all this cheap sort of fun and nonsense, many other have. One of them seems to be Jack Black and the people who made 'Napoleon Dynamite' (which is a great film). They came with the idea of a Mexican-Scandinavian orphan who lives in a village or whatever marginal place in Mexico with some priests or monks. And in order to, perhaps, save their home, he becomes a fighter...'Nacho Libre', so I assume that it will be a kind of funny film with many touchy moments, in case it resembles the emotional style of 'Napoleon Dynamite'. Goodness me, will it bring memories from my childhood of watching luchadores films?
Ha, I don't think so, that is why i really want to see this.
If not, you could try in your spare time to learn about it, however i am not sure how much of reading could help you to understand what this is all about. In Mexico la lucha libre is a whole cult sport in which semi-fit and less-than-fit men fight against each other wearing customs. Over four decades ago, if i am not wrong, the cult for the luchadores (fighters) was so big that many films were made out of their adventures.
Yeah, fighters sci-fi films, such as El Santo Vs the Monsters, El Santo and Blue Demon agains the Vampire Women, El Santo Vs the Werewolf, etc. etc. I think that when I was a child, I spent the afternoons watching those films.
Ok, even if you haven't come across all this cheap sort of fun and nonsense, many other have. One of them seems to be Jack Black and the people who made 'Napoleon Dynamite' (which is a great film). They came with the idea of a Mexican-Scandinavian orphan who lives in a village or whatever marginal place in Mexico with some priests or monks. And in order to, perhaps, save their home, he becomes a fighter...'Nacho Libre', so I assume that it will be a kind of funny film with many touchy moments, in case it resembles the emotional style of 'Napoleon Dynamite'. Goodness me, will it bring memories from my childhood of watching luchadores films?
Ha, I don't think so, that is why i really want to see this.
Why bother if I am not there...
Hi, recently the presidential elections in Mexico took place. Right, who gives a peanut when it comes to Mexico either for football or elections. Well, for football I understand, you see, they played quite bad, shameless sad game they had. However there was some spark that made me recover from my frustration. In their last match, the Mexicans played very well, to a great level showing that they wanted to remain in the competition. Still they lost, but even then I didn't feel, like the English, that it was the end of the world, the end of humanity as such and that only barbarians will descend upon us. I actually felt that the Mexicans gave a good game.
Now, about the elections. Why to give a damn if I don't live over there? Why would anyone reading this would care? There are no reasons for anyone to care about Mexican politics, unless they intend to migrate from deep south america towards gringolandia or Canada. It would only matter to those who believe in some sort of fair trade, organic freelance farming, managing to keep with a simple way of life, enjoying freely of the natural scenarios, along with other of the positive things about that country. Anyway, what i wanted to communicate is that for once in a lifetime of elections, the results are way to tight between the two main candidates. The difference between them is of only and only one per cent. However that one per cent favours the candidate that I do not support, who surely will become the fucking president. What is surprising about this elections is not only the result, but that some ballots are being counted, from yesterday onwards. Would that really change anything? Me and the rest of the Mexicans will see.
Now, about the elections. Why to give a damn if I don't live over there? Why would anyone reading this would care? There are no reasons for anyone to care about Mexican politics, unless they intend to migrate from deep south america towards gringolandia or Canada. It would only matter to those who believe in some sort of fair trade, organic freelance farming, managing to keep with a simple way of life, enjoying freely of the natural scenarios, along with other of the positive things about that country. Anyway, what i wanted to communicate is that for once in a lifetime of elections, the results are way to tight between the two main candidates. The difference between them is of only and only one per cent. However that one per cent favours the candidate that I do not support, who surely will become the fucking president. What is surprising about this elections is not only the result, but that some ballots are being counted, from yesterday onwards. Would that really change anything? Me and the rest of the Mexicans will see.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Patrick Guilbaud's - Dublin
I promised to post a review of this experience a good few weeks ago and still have not been able to deliver.
To start with, I was very nervous about entering the realm of gourmet as having next to no experience from such places, I really did not know what to expect. Once we had our booking confirmed the previous day, we took a cab to the restaurant feeling quite nervous still. Mine, and Xinola's concerns were soon swept away as we were directed to a small and very comfortable waiting lounge.
The owner of the restaurant welcomed us with a firm handshake and a smile, which I thought was a nice gesture. We were soon asked if we'd like a drink before ordering and as we had agreed before, we ordered a glass of vintage champagne for each. This was served swiftly and tasted as I expected a good-quality blanc de blancs champagne from 1996 would.
As we toasted for my birthday the menus were brought to us. We agreed to go for the three course lunch menu and the owner himself took our orders. Next to visit us was the sommelier who brought over the wine list (btw, 72 pages and about 5kg). Instead of delving into the extensive list we asked the sommelier to recommend a wine for us.
We were guided to our table and the first impression of the restaurant just took another step up as the space was completely isolated from the hustle of the street, offering instead a nice and light space with a pretty view to the rear garden. The waiter brought our champagne flutes for us and we sat down to wait for the first course. First, however, the wine was presented.
We followed the sommelier's recommendation for a light Burgundy white. Even without tasting the food, the wine was really airy and fruity and we both agreed to like it.
Instead of receiving the starter first, we were offered a selection of breads and butter. These were all tasty and especially my herb and tomato miniroll was delicious. As we nibbled our bread, the appetiser was served. Now, picture the stereotypical little arty gourmet portion and you can start to have an idea of this appetiser. Consisting of seared chicken, apple salad and plum sauce, the appetiser did a good job of waking up the appetite together with the remainder of the champagne. The service was very professional and most of the waiters were French, which added to the experience.
What followed next was quite interesting - the waiter came to clean the table after the plates for the appetisers were taken away. He used a little metallic spatula to wipe the crumbs from the table. This was quite funny at least for me...
Xinola's starter was a Lobster bisque with truffles and I selected a risotto with parmesan and semi-dried tomatoes and black olives. Both were divine, if a bit salty to our liking. Whilst enjoying our starters, wine and water glasses were filled as needed.
After the starter the main course arrived just in perfect time. Xinola's monkfish looked like a nice piece of 'meat' and my slowly poached chicken looked good too. The fish was apparently very good and the chicken benefited from morel mushrooms and a yellow wine sauce. Very good indeed, if a bit salty once again. At this point I also realised that my concern about not having enough to eat was unnecessary. There was plenty to eat in fact.
Once again the table was cleaned with the same funny tools and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. The wine was excellent with the food and this was turning into one of those experiences you'll always remember.
Desserts were ordered from a separate dessert menu and what followed was very nice. Xinola opted for a selection of French and Irish cheeses and I chose a black fig crumble with milk and almond sorbet. When the cheeseboard (or a trolley rather) was brought over, we were amazed. There were at least 30 varieties of cheese, varying from mild bries to extremely potent goatcheese and gorgonzola. An appropriate selection of crackers was served with the cheeses. Very impressive and more importantly, extremely tasty.
My dessert was very tasty as well. The sorbet was exquisite and the fig crumble was great as well. By this time I was quite full already.
Once we finished the desserts they asked if we wished to have some coffee or tea. We had some coffee and it was served with some petits flours (or something like that), which are little cakes and cookies etc. Very nice touch in the end.
So, we payed the bill and thought: what the hell just happened. It was a trip on to the 'other side', a trip that we'll always remember. Was it worth it? Definitely.
I hope that this makes some sense to give a good idea of the place, but I also have to apologise for forgetting some details. You can now rest and take a sigh of relief for I'm not going to pursue a career as a food critic. I just enjoyed it and would definitely recommend the place if someone would ask. In fact, I'd like to go again one day...
To start with, I was very nervous about entering the realm of gourmet as having next to no experience from such places, I really did not know what to expect. Once we had our booking confirmed the previous day, we took a cab to the restaurant feeling quite nervous still. Mine, and Xinola's concerns were soon swept away as we were directed to a small and very comfortable waiting lounge.
The owner of the restaurant welcomed us with a firm handshake and a smile, which I thought was a nice gesture. We were soon asked if we'd like a drink before ordering and as we had agreed before, we ordered a glass of vintage champagne for each. This was served swiftly and tasted as I expected a good-quality blanc de blancs champagne from 1996 would.
As we toasted for my birthday the menus were brought to us. We agreed to go for the three course lunch menu and the owner himself took our orders. Next to visit us was the sommelier who brought over the wine list (btw, 72 pages and about 5kg). Instead of delving into the extensive list we asked the sommelier to recommend a wine for us.
We were guided to our table and the first impression of the restaurant just took another step up as the space was completely isolated from the hustle of the street, offering instead a nice and light space with a pretty view to the rear garden. The waiter brought our champagne flutes for us and we sat down to wait for the first course. First, however, the wine was presented.
We followed the sommelier's recommendation for a light Burgundy white. Even without tasting the food, the wine was really airy and fruity and we both agreed to like it.
Instead of receiving the starter first, we were offered a selection of breads and butter. These were all tasty and especially my herb and tomato miniroll was delicious. As we nibbled our bread, the appetiser was served. Now, picture the stereotypical little arty gourmet portion and you can start to have an idea of this appetiser. Consisting of seared chicken, apple salad and plum sauce, the appetiser did a good job of waking up the appetite together with the remainder of the champagne. The service was very professional and most of the waiters were French, which added to the experience.
What followed next was quite interesting - the waiter came to clean the table after the plates for the appetisers were taken away. He used a little metallic spatula to wipe the crumbs from the table. This was quite funny at least for me...
Xinola's starter was a Lobster bisque with truffles and I selected a risotto with parmesan and semi-dried tomatoes and black olives. Both were divine, if a bit salty to our liking. Whilst enjoying our starters, wine and water glasses were filled as needed.
After the starter the main course arrived just in perfect time. Xinola's monkfish looked like a nice piece of 'meat' and my slowly poached chicken looked good too. The fish was apparently very good and the chicken benefited from morel mushrooms and a yellow wine sauce. Very good indeed, if a bit salty once again. At this point I also realised that my concern about not having enough to eat was unnecessary. There was plenty to eat in fact.
Once again the table was cleaned with the same funny tools and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. The wine was excellent with the food and this was turning into one of those experiences you'll always remember.
Desserts were ordered from a separate dessert menu and what followed was very nice. Xinola opted for a selection of French and Irish cheeses and I chose a black fig crumble with milk and almond sorbet. When the cheeseboard (or a trolley rather) was brought over, we were amazed. There were at least 30 varieties of cheese, varying from mild bries to extremely potent goatcheese and gorgonzola. An appropriate selection of crackers was served with the cheeses. Very impressive and more importantly, extremely tasty.
My dessert was very tasty as well. The sorbet was exquisite and the fig crumble was great as well. By this time I was quite full already.
Once we finished the desserts they asked if we wished to have some coffee or tea. We had some coffee and it was served with some petits flours (or something like that), which are little cakes and cookies etc. Very nice touch in the end.
So, we payed the bill and thought: what the hell just happened. It was a trip on to the 'other side', a trip that we'll always remember. Was it worth it? Definitely.
I hope that this makes some sense to give a good idea of the place, but I also have to apologise for forgetting some details. You can now rest and take a sigh of relief for I'm not going to pursue a career as a food critic. I just enjoyed it and would definitely recommend the place if someone would ask. In fact, I'd like to go again one day...
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Some of Life's Things
While the last week was fantastic, weather wise, today began with a gloomy approach and mad showers and rain all day long. Well, again I decided to begin talking about the weather because that is one thing I just felt now when I came out from the library in my way to the computer lab. A little shower interfere in my enjoyment of the outdoors.
I don't complain though. This rainy day was certainly needed in the island, particularly because for the last few months there has been an ongoing campaign for a declaration of a draught and the banning of hose pipes. Not more wasting water in the gardens some might say. The other day, my friends' landlady was commenting, over a Sunday's bbq and after she had fetched her own, quite big and varied garden for a charitable occasion, that people don't want to water their gardens with the residual water from home appliances. I really didn't ask what did she mean with that and if she water her huge garden with soapy water. I didn't think so.
Today I was talking with some of my colleagues, which is not so common to do because I am most of the time away from the university. The two of these colleagues were quite disappointed at the university and in particular at the department in which we 'study'. Both of them have been unlucky enough to experience negative situations with their supervisors, admin people, graduate school, etcetera. While I listened to their stories, I felt that there was something not too unfamiliar in them. To a great extent I have had similar experiences, for instance, the lack of supervision throughout the five years of my degree. However, I never made a point out of that to anyone else that was not close to me. I had never commented about that issue just for the sake of gossip as these two colleagues of mine are doing.
With this I am not saying that I don't like to complain, which is an activity I don't mind engaging myself on a daily basis. Nonetheless, I rather do it with a purpose of exposing my own-whatever-self, instead of exposing other's failures. Well, I have to admit I don't mind making statements about the fucked-up Mexican government, the oligarchies, the catholic church, my family, bad weather, etcetera. But there was something in my colleagues' voices that I didn't quite get right. What was their point for letting me know about their conditions? So I could gossip about that to others? Well, if that was their aim, so I did when the conversation with my friends included some topic about the department in which we studied and certain particular senior lecturer that we actually dislike. This lecturer is the one in troubles with one of my colleagues about which I was talking earlier.
What am I trying to say here today? Actually nothing in particular, just filling up a gap in information about the things that are going on in one of the lives of the contributors to this blog.
Please, accept my apologies if the information that I have dared to put here is unnecessary for you to bear with.
I don't complain though. This rainy day was certainly needed in the island, particularly because for the last few months there has been an ongoing campaign for a declaration of a draught and the banning of hose pipes. Not more wasting water in the gardens some might say. The other day, my friends' landlady was commenting, over a Sunday's bbq and after she had fetched her own, quite big and varied garden for a charitable occasion, that people don't want to water their gardens with the residual water from home appliances. I really didn't ask what did she mean with that and if she water her huge garden with soapy water. I didn't think so.
Today I was talking with some of my colleagues, which is not so common to do because I am most of the time away from the university. The two of these colleagues were quite disappointed at the university and in particular at the department in which we 'study'. Both of them have been unlucky enough to experience negative situations with their supervisors, admin people, graduate school, etcetera. While I listened to their stories, I felt that there was something not too unfamiliar in them. To a great extent I have had similar experiences, for instance, the lack of supervision throughout the five years of my degree. However, I never made a point out of that to anyone else that was not close to me. I had never commented about that issue just for the sake of gossip as these two colleagues of mine are doing.
With this I am not saying that I don't like to complain, which is an activity I don't mind engaging myself on a daily basis. Nonetheless, I rather do it with a purpose of exposing my own-whatever-self, instead of exposing other's failures. Well, I have to admit I don't mind making statements about the fucked-up Mexican government, the oligarchies, the catholic church, my family, bad weather, etcetera. But there was something in my colleagues' voices that I didn't quite get right. What was their point for letting me know about their conditions? So I could gossip about that to others? Well, if that was their aim, so I did when the conversation with my friends included some topic about the department in which we studied and certain particular senior lecturer that we actually dislike. This lecturer is the one in troubles with one of my colleagues about which I was talking earlier.
What am I trying to say here today? Actually nothing in particular, just filling up a gap in information about the things that are going on in one of the lives of the contributors to this blog.
Please, accept my apologies if the information that I have dared to put here is unnecessary for you to bear with.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
'--- Blog to become a film'
The title comes from a little article from The Guardian (published yesterday).
The blog in reference is an acclaimed blog created by a man from Baghdad during the initial invasion in 2003. And, I didn't know, that it has been already turned into a book. Ok, that is cool, but how astonoshing? What can that mean? What can that represent?
First thing I think about is the publication of correspondence letters (from famous writters, philosophers, politicians, etcetera) and the films made about them. Those are things from the past. And part of that past was the relevance of the life of 'publicly-important' individuals.
Something of the present is the significant attention that 'publicly-non-important' individuals can get. Other thing of the present is the change into virtual communication, and its significance for the people (with access to it), and its different meanings and consequences. This other aspect also comes in many different shapes, and it is taken into the extreme that many many of the those unknown people become known by their displays of information in virtual spaces. Other extreme is the outstanding 'celebrity' culture in the UK, where persons who were unknown yesterday turn public with the blink of the eye if they just happen to shag, snog, date, or know something about some publicly-important-one. Yet, this last condition is not only a thing of the present, it is a thing of the past too, however it is aided by the increasing access to means of communication.
I am not sure of how I actually see all that, but so far I find it very interesting and as happening way too fast. The speed is one aspect that I actually cannot comprehend just yet. But I will leave it here, because I don't want to get too serious here.
Let's better do some mental wanking. Can you imagine the whole of incoherences from the imposibility of the next happening?
'Electric Vihta Blog to become a film'
The blog in reference is an acclaimed blog created by a man from Baghdad during the initial invasion in 2003. And, I didn't know, that it has been already turned into a book. Ok, that is cool, but how astonoshing? What can that mean? What can that represent?
First thing I think about is the publication of correspondence letters (from famous writters, philosophers, politicians, etcetera) and the films made about them. Those are things from the past. And part of that past was the relevance of the life of 'publicly-important' individuals.
Something of the present is the significant attention that 'publicly-non-important' individuals can get. Other thing of the present is the change into virtual communication, and its significance for the people (with access to it), and its different meanings and consequences. This other aspect also comes in many different shapes, and it is taken into the extreme that many many of the those unknown people become known by their displays of information in virtual spaces. Other extreme is the outstanding 'celebrity' culture in the UK, where persons who were unknown yesterday turn public with the blink of the eye if they just happen to shag, snog, date, or know something about some publicly-important-one. Yet, this last condition is not only a thing of the present, it is a thing of the past too, however it is aided by the increasing access to means of communication.
I am not sure of how I actually see all that, but so far I find it very interesting and as happening way too fast. The speed is one aspect that I actually cannot comprehend just yet. But I will leave it here, because I don't want to get too serious here.
Let's better do some mental wanking. Can you imagine the whole of incoherences from the imposibility of the next happening?
'Electric Vihta Blog to become a film'
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Oh Lordi
World, or at least Europe has gone mad, it's official now. Eurovision song contest has long been a lame attempt to raise some feelings for one's nationality. Funny that, as if people in their countries on this continent already would not possess those feelings. Europe is a very diverse continent with rich and complex cultural mixture and the peoples of Europe have always known this and stuck to their own countries with some exemptions of course so that the point of such contest still remains very unclear to me...
However, Lordi, with some nice assistance from their record label, caused such a stir even before anyone had heard any of the songs that few were left in darkness about their mission - to rock the stagnant and largely pointless contest. To be honest, it was about a time for someone to really do this and to question the necessity of such thing on the whole.
Well, I can't really say that much more about the song or the band except that as for the rest of the contestants, it had some more comedy and showbusiness value than most and therefore, it won. Oh, just maybe, there's also a helluva big group of people around Europe who happen to like monsters and semi-hard rock too... or not?
On another note, I will be turning 30 next week and will be visiting the city of Dublin with Xinola Mon-Tue next week. The highlight of the trip will be a meal at Patrick Guilbaud's restaurant. More on that next week once we're back. I'll write a little review of a place that I've never even thought that I'd be visiting and I am of course talking about the restaurant here.
Mad world, and it's only getting crazier as we get older....
However, Lordi, with some nice assistance from their record label, caused such a stir even before anyone had heard any of the songs that few were left in darkness about their mission - to rock the stagnant and largely pointless contest. To be honest, it was about a time for someone to really do this and to question the necessity of such thing on the whole.
Well, I can't really say that much more about the song or the band except that as for the rest of the contestants, it had some more comedy and showbusiness value than most and therefore, it won. Oh, just maybe, there's also a helluva big group of people around Europe who happen to like monsters and semi-hard rock too... or not?
On another note, I will be turning 30 next week and will be visiting the city of Dublin with Xinola Mon-Tue next week. The highlight of the trip will be a meal at Patrick Guilbaud's restaurant. More on that next week once we're back. I'll write a little review of a place that I've never even thought that I'd be visiting and I am of course talking about the restaurant here.
Mad world, and it's only getting crazier as we get older....
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Hard Rock Hallelujah, make your bets
This morning, waking up to the Chris Moyles show as usual, a strange out of a cavern sound was put through the radio. It was the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest entrance: Lordi and their Monster Rock.
If you haven't heard the song or seen the video, I recommend you to do so if you want to be part of this anticipation to that ridiculous contest. This goes months back...
Few months ago, Nygard showed me the Finnish entrance to the Eurovision. It was cracking at the moment, and we kind of felt sorry for the Finnish nuisance. Yet, just yet, if most of the people think that Finland will be the most annoying competitors, actually I think the whole show is meant to be that. I would be surprised if people have forgotten the horrible performers from Greece...
The anticipation for the contest is bigger this week. For example, two days ago, in Scott Mills show, they were asking the audience to mention their favorites to win. Someone called and mention, if I'm not wrong, the Romanian entry and they played the song, which sounded as usual clubbing shitty music. Right. Then someone else called and asked for Finland's entry. People were cracking, again by the embarrassment, and played the song.
I know my point is not clear as usual. I intend to raise a case against all odds and claim that although Finland is the entry said to earn ZERO votes in next Saturday's context, I am almost sure that someone will give at least one vote. I am almost sure that if this should happen, a major embarrassment then will be for the UK because three years ago it did not receive a vote whatsoever. Having a slight idea of the Brits, they will recall the time when they didn't win a vote at all, and will try to find explanations for why something like the Monster Rock received at least one vote and why 'Gemini' did not receive even a laugh.
Does any one want to bet that Finland will get a vote? I say, they will get at least one, for the sake of an honest laugh.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Travel stories...
As promised, here's a little travel diary of our recent trip. I'll keep it simple and add a few photos to illustrate some key locations....
Our first day travelling was quite a long day, made somewhat worse by a guy in seat 34K in front of me, who had the seat fully reclined for the entire 11 hour flight. I'm not complaining for complaining's sake but I'm quite tall and it's not very comfortable to try to relax for such a long time in a tiny cramped space.
Another slightly negative note to add was the so called fast bag drop at LHR. Yeah, do the online check in and drop your bags and you're off, right. In an airport such as Heatrow, there simply is nothing fast, apart from the first class passengers hurrying their way past you to the fast track luggage reclaim and migration control...
Apart from that, the journey went well and it was nice to arrive to D.F. with a hint of daylight left. The skies were clear with little pollution and we could see the volcanoes surrounding the city nicely.
The first weekend we spent in a city called Puebla and also visited some surrounding towns for Aztec ruins. Very impressive. Puebla itself is a nice and vibrant colonial city, at least for my eyes. The weather was great and the process of sunburn did not take too long to get started.
The great thing about Puebla is Mole Poblano. I've never tasted anything so voluptuous, sweet, bitter and hot at the same time, gorgeous! Made with several ingredients ranging from plantains to various chillies and roasted sesame seeds, this truly is a Mexican dish at its best. And this was the best I've tried, ever, and I've tried a few...
After the weekend we took an early Monday morning flight to Cancun (for cheap flights, check Volaris). Landing to Cancun International was rather interesting as we could see from the plane the damage done to the jungle by the hurricane Wilma.
Our destination wasn't Cancun itself but a little island called Isla Mujeres (island of women), located apprx 10km from Cancun in the Caribbean Sea. We've actually visited this place together once before and I fell in love with it immediately so we just had to go back.
Isla (as everybody seems to be referring to it) is a quaint island of some 13,000 inhabitants and a small abudance of tourists. Fortunately, there are no franchises (ie. McDonald's etc) on the island and the tallest building is limited to three storeys. The abundance of tourists is not overwhelming at all, on the contrary. We felt the place very peaceful, especially in comparison to the previous time as that was the peak season (xmas-new year).
Highlights of Isla definitely included snorkeling and beach (which you can see on the right). Holiday as ordered... Including some delicious food from the Loncherias.
From this little paradise our journey continued towards Veracruz state. 16 hours on the bus is not necessarily an ideal way to spend precious holidays, but for some reason I didn't mind. At least I had more space on the bus than I had on the flipping plane.
In Veracruz we had a wonderful time meeting family members and just literally taking it easy. Xinola already posted some pictures from Veracruz and I'm sure you can appreciate the beauty of the place from the photos. Very nice indeed. I've always had a large soft spot for nature and wildlife and Mexico definitely has some great places to explore. If only one had more time and money...
Some more beach and delicious food and it was time for me to head back to UK and boring office life again. Xinola still had some extra days with her family which she, hopefully, enjoyed whilst I headed back.
It's a shame that nice things must come to an end... Anyway, this was a great holiday during which I managed to read a couple of books and truly relax well. Can't really ask more for from a holiday, can you?
Our first day travelling was quite a long day, made somewhat worse by a guy in seat 34K in front of me, who had the seat fully reclined for the entire 11 hour flight. I'm not complaining for complaining's sake but I'm quite tall and it's not very comfortable to try to relax for such a long time in a tiny cramped space.
Another slightly negative note to add was the so called fast bag drop at LHR. Yeah, do the online check in and drop your bags and you're off, right. In an airport such as Heatrow, there simply is nothing fast, apart from the first class passengers hurrying their way past you to the fast track luggage reclaim and migration control...
Apart from that, the journey went well and it was nice to arrive to D.F. with a hint of daylight left. The skies were clear with little pollution and we could see the volcanoes surrounding the city nicely.
The first weekend we spent in a city called Puebla and also visited some surrounding towns for Aztec ruins. Very impressive. Puebla itself is a nice and vibrant colonial city, at least for my eyes. The weather was great and the process of sunburn did not take too long to get started.
The great thing about Puebla is Mole Poblano. I've never tasted anything so voluptuous, sweet, bitter and hot at the same time, gorgeous! Made with several ingredients ranging from plantains to various chillies and roasted sesame seeds, this truly is a Mexican dish at its best. And this was the best I've tried, ever, and I've tried a few...
After the weekend we took an early Monday morning flight to Cancun (for cheap flights, check Volaris). Landing to Cancun International was rather interesting as we could see from the plane the damage done to the jungle by the hurricane Wilma.
Our destination wasn't Cancun itself but a little island called Isla Mujeres (island of women), located apprx 10km from Cancun in the Caribbean Sea. We've actually visited this place together once before and I fell in love with it immediately so we just had to go back.
Isla (as everybody seems to be referring to it) is a quaint island of some 13,000 inhabitants and a small abudance of tourists. Fortunately, there are no franchises (ie. McDonald's etc) on the island and the tallest building is limited to three storeys. The abundance of tourists is not overwhelming at all, on the contrary. We felt the place very peaceful, especially in comparison to the previous time as that was the peak season (xmas-new year).
Highlights of Isla definitely included snorkeling and beach (which you can see on the right). Holiday as ordered... Including some delicious food from the Loncherias.
From this little paradise our journey continued towards Veracruz state. 16 hours on the bus is not necessarily an ideal way to spend precious holidays, but for some reason I didn't mind. At least I had more space on the bus than I had on the flipping plane.
In Veracruz we had a wonderful time meeting family members and just literally taking it easy. Xinola already posted some pictures from Veracruz and I'm sure you can appreciate the beauty of the place from the photos. Very nice indeed. I've always had a large soft spot for nature and wildlife and Mexico definitely has some great places to explore. If only one had more time and money...
Some more beach and delicious food and it was time for me to head back to UK and boring office life again. Xinola still had some extra days with her family which she, hopefully, enjoyed whilst I headed back.
It's a shame that nice things must come to an end... Anyway, this was a great holiday during which I managed to read a couple of books and truly relax well. Can't really ask more for from a holiday, can you?
Friday, April 28, 2006
Maradona's worst nightmare
I hope that you can access this advertisement. It has been in the news in Latin America because it is about the football god Maradona and the bad effects of drinking to much Guarana, a Brazilian drink.
His nightmare is about him playing for the Argentinian football archenemy: Brazil.
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/anexos/Video/06/31776.asx
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Veracruz' Pics II
This is my second installment of Veracruz. This is part of the sierra (mountain system) of the province, located in Huatusco, between Cordoba and Xalapa.
On that day we climbed a small mount, but the thing is that the mount begins from the town centre. This means that part of it is very much populated and urbanised, as many places in this part of the sierra of Veracruz. I am only showing the green parts of course.
Below we can see some of the very beautiful view from one side of the mount.
On that day we climbed a small mount, but the thing is that the mount begins from the town centre. This means that part of it is very much populated and urbanised, as many places in this part of the sierra of Veracruz. I am only showing the green parts of course.
Below we can see some of the very beautiful view from one side of the mount.
Veracruz' Pics I
This is the mangroves and palm tress route towards Jicacal in the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The boat ride costs £0.20 one way. Of course they use quite small boats and fill them up with people who carry loads of stuff with them to spend the whole day in Jicacal.
This is Jicacal on a windy and wavy day. Although one can bring its own food and drinks, one can order some freshly caught fish and they prepared it as one wishes. There are caguamas (beer bottles of one litre) and loads of snacks to buy. The day goes quite fast in this kind of place.
This is the first of the two posts I offer on some contrasting things that Veracruz has to offer. Since Veracruz is not on the Caribbean or the Pacific, it is a place not so famous among the common European tourist. Therefore, I have the pleasure to show you some of my favourite places there. Still, I have to admit that there is so much for me to explore in that province, which I intend to do little by little.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Holidays - the end
The title says it all. It's all over for this spring break. I will write a little trip report from home once I find a moment but wanted to quickly acknowledge that we're back from the tropics and all's well and good, apart from being back at work.
Mexico is a great country with great people. This was my third trip and not once have I felt uncomfortable anywhere (if you don't count the tiny microbuses and colectivos in which I feel a little bit less comfortable). Maybe I've been lucky or maybe having my better half from that part of the world has helped me. You see, it's quite common to see the exact opposite too amongst the tourista. People complaining and whining about pretty much anything and anyone in their way. I guess there's no way of satisfying everybody is there?
Anyway, I will write more once I'm home with some photos maybe... It seems now that the world has not stopped rotating nor has the office stopped working while I was away. So, back to work it is then, unfortunately. For now, the holidays are over.
Mexico is a great country with great people. This was my third trip and not once have I felt uncomfortable anywhere (if you don't count the tiny microbuses and colectivos in which I feel a little bit less comfortable). Maybe I've been lucky or maybe having my better half from that part of the world has helped me. You see, it's quite common to see the exact opposite too amongst the tourista. People complaining and whining about pretty much anything and anyone in their way. I guess there's no way of satisfying everybody is there?
Anyway, I will write more once I'm home with some photos maybe... It seems now that the world has not stopped rotating nor has the office stopped working while I was away. So, back to work it is then, unfortunately. For now, the holidays are over.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Muted
Right at this moment I can't think of anything more silly than music videos. Unintentional comedy in music videos sems to be without any boundaries.
I made this discovery earlier this week when I went to the gym. They have tv screens in front of the exercise bikes, and if you are using one of those bikes you get to plug in your headphones. If you don't have a headset all you can do is to watch the screen and pretend you hear something.
But anyway, what struck me was that the videos are absolutely awful. There was not a single female artist or group who weren't desperately trying to get rid of all their clothes before the end of the video, whilst sticking their asses on to the camera. Now, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against beutiful women, or their asses, but these are MUSIC videos, not ads for Victoria's Secrets.
And then there are the rappers. Sweet Jesus! Fur coats in the desert, fur coats by the pool. And, of course, jewellery that even Liberace (see picture below) would reject for being too gay.
There must be some web based tool for all wannabe rappers to make their own videos (choose from a selection of over-sized shirts, bikini girls and ridiculous ways of crossing fingers) because they all look exactly the same. Exploring the possibilities within the genre is clearly not a cool thing to do.
I'm not even going to get started on the solo male artists... Awful, is all I need to say about that.
Honestly, I don't know what's wrong here but it seems that there are no good music videos at all. But more worryingly, it seems that the songs that go with these videos are even worse. The radio gets crappier by the day... And now I really have to stop before I start sounding like a real old git!
I made this discovery earlier this week when I went to the gym. They have tv screens in front of the exercise bikes, and if you are using one of those bikes you get to plug in your headphones. If you don't have a headset all you can do is to watch the screen and pretend you hear something.
But anyway, what struck me was that the videos are absolutely awful. There was not a single female artist or group who weren't desperately trying to get rid of all their clothes before the end of the video, whilst sticking their asses on to the camera. Now, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against beutiful women, or their asses, but these are MUSIC videos, not ads for Victoria's Secrets.
And then there are the rappers. Sweet Jesus! Fur coats in the desert, fur coats by the pool. And, of course, jewellery that even Liberace (see picture below) would reject for being too gay.
There must be some web based tool for all wannabe rappers to make their own videos (choose from a selection of over-sized shirts, bikini girls and ridiculous ways of crossing fingers) because they all look exactly the same. Exploring the possibilities within the genre is clearly not a cool thing to do.
I'm not even going to get started on the solo male artists... Awful, is all I need to say about that.
Honestly, I don't know what's wrong here but it seems that there are no good music videos at all. But more worryingly, it seems that the songs that go with these videos are even worse. The radio gets crappier by the day... And now I really have to stop before I start sounding like a real old git!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Soul Inc.
I just heard this on the radio, and decided to cash in instantly...
Apparently someone in China wanted to sell his soul to the highest bidder on the internet. Well, the problem was that the company providing the e-commerce service reckoned they needed proof from "higher authority" to guarantee that the person was in a place to sell his soul and would be able to deliver the goods.
That's when it hit me: Goods and services my arse! Souls are where the smart money is in the new millenia. So, Electric Vihta is proud to present SOUL Inc. The first company on the net to provide assurances from higher authority that you are eligible to sell your soul. With a nominal fee we will provide you with all the doccuments you need to sell your soul.
Imagine the possibilities: you can buy a few extra souls and show off, or make a bit of cash by selling your own.
C'mon now soul sisters, make me rich!
P.S. According to reliable sources (South Park) Japanese people don't have souls, so don't be fooled by cunning fraudsters offering discount Japanese souls.
Apparently someone in China wanted to sell his soul to the highest bidder on the internet. Well, the problem was that the company providing the e-commerce service reckoned they needed proof from "higher authority" to guarantee that the person was in a place to sell his soul and would be able to deliver the goods.
That's when it hit me: Goods and services my arse! Souls are where the smart money is in the new millenia. So, Electric Vihta is proud to present SOUL Inc. The first company on the net to provide assurances from higher authority that you are eligible to sell your soul. With a nominal fee we will provide you with all the doccuments you need to sell your soul.
Imagine the possibilities: you can buy a few extra souls and show off, or make a bit of cash by selling your own.
C'mon now soul sisters, make me rich!
P.S. According to reliable sources (South Park) Japanese people don't have souls, so don't be fooled by cunning fraudsters offering discount Japanese souls.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Holiday of a kind...
While Nygard and Xinola are downing Pina Coladas and relaxing under the Mexican sun, I'm having a holiday of a different nature...
In order to finally finish my studies I have taken two weeks off from work. In this time I'm supposed to dive into the disturbed mind of probably the single most repugnant caracter in human history (no, not Berlusconi or Lukasenko, we're looking for a 20th century German dictator here), and then resurface with a balanced account of how it all went wrong. A task, that seems to me to be deeply ironical in the first place. Well, I only have myself to blame for the topic of my paper.
Anyway, after that paper is written, I can finally say good bye to the wonderful world of academia. Not much of a change really, since I've been working pretty much full time for the past few years while claiming to be a student to save a few cents in museus entries etc. Sad, I know, but there you go.
As you can probably tell, I'm not exactly packed with energy and enthusiasm when it comes to finishing my studies. I mean, a person who rather writes a blog entry about having to write something else is hardly a prime example of the kind of academic determination needed to bring one's studies to an end.
Right, back to work (i.e. sulking, cursing, and utter unproductivity).
N and X, I leave it to you to come up with something positive and life-affirming for this blog.
In order to finally finish my studies I have taken two weeks off from work. In this time I'm supposed to dive into the disturbed mind of probably the single most repugnant caracter in human history (no, not Berlusconi or Lukasenko, we're looking for a 20th century German dictator here), and then resurface with a balanced account of how it all went wrong. A task, that seems to me to be deeply ironical in the first place. Well, I only have myself to blame for the topic of my paper.
Anyway, after that paper is written, I can finally say good bye to the wonderful world of academia. Not much of a change really, since I've been working pretty much full time for the past few years while claiming to be a student to save a few cents in museus entries etc. Sad, I know, but there you go.
As you can probably tell, I'm not exactly packed with energy and enthusiasm when it comes to finishing my studies. I mean, a person who rather writes a blog entry about having to write something else is hardly a prime example of the kind of academic determination needed to bring one's studies to an end.
Right, back to work (i.e. sulking, cursing, and utter unproductivity).
N and X, I leave it to you to come up with something positive and life-affirming for this blog.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Kicked in the teeth
...or that's how it feels at the moment anyway. I'm taking a day off with one bastard of a tooth ache.
The pain aside, it's been an educational day. For example, I discoered that I was able to book an apointment with a university dentist (free for student union members), but failed to secure one with a private dentist (that cost so much that anyone who is willing to pay that must be in very real pain). I'm not sure whether to see this a triump of a well fare society or as a sign that private dentists are clearly struggling with too much work and are in acute need of expensive holidays.
Either way, I'm in pain so it's difficult to ponder about sociopolitical issues without ultimately ending up feeling very sorry for myself. So instead I'm just munching on painkillers and trying not to think about the tooth, the tooth, the tooooooth. Bastard!
Well, at least I don't have to go to work today. I suppose tooth ache is almost worth it. In fact, I think that a dental appointment is a great metaphor for a day in the office: you go in all innocent and expecting a nice leasurely visit. This all changes when the dentist tells you that your teeth are fine, there's JUST ONE LITTLE THING that needs fixing. And before you know it, you are practically choking on a mouthfull of what can only be described as weapons of mass destruction. When you leave the surgery you feel violated, insulted, and you are in even more pain than you were on your way there. I'm telling you, if you haven't felt like that after a day in your office then you are probably not doing your work properly (and/or you are an executive of the company).
Right off to the dentist then. Let the fun begin!
The pain aside, it's been an educational day. For example, I discoered that I was able to book an apointment with a university dentist (free for student union members), but failed to secure one with a private dentist (that cost so much that anyone who is willing to pay that must be in very real pain). I'm not sure whether to see this a triump of a well fare society or as a sign that private dentists are clearly struggling with too much work and are in acute need of expensive holidays.
Either way, I'm in pain so it's difficult to ponder about sociopolitical issues without ultimately ending up feeling very sorry for myself. So instead I'm just munching on painkillers and trying not to think about the tooth, the tooth, the tooooooth. Bastard!
Well, at least I don't have to go to work today. I suppose tooth ache is almost worth it. In fact, I think that a dental appointment is a great metaphor for a day in the office: you go in all innocent and expecting a nice leasurely visit. This all changes when the dentist tells you that your teeth are fine, there's JUST ONE LITTLE THING that needs fixing. And before you know it, you are practically choking on a mouthfull of what can only be described as weapons of mass destruction. When you leave the surgery you feel violated, insulted, and you are in even more pain than you were on your way there. I'm telling you, if you haven't felt like that after a day in your office then you are probably not doing your work properly (and/or you are an executive of the company).
Right off to the dentist then. Let the fun begin!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Holidays, vol 3.
Yeehaa! Four more working days and we're off to Mexico! Can hardly wait...
That was my contribution to lighten the spirits of the blog after the more serious posts by a certain Xinola. Just to quickly summarize the past week: Being really busy shuttling around Southern England and the infamous road to hell - the M25 aka the world's largest parking lot.
The London ringroad (or orbital if you wish) is indeed one of those places you realise that there must be something wrong with the picture when you're sitting there, sniffing the exhaust fumes of about one and half million other vehicles and wondering" why am I doing this?". So nothing new really, just work and accumulating frustration and stress of which not all travelling related.
But holidays. There's definitely something to look forward to. Just about the only thing I really want to do for the first few days is to stare the underwater world through the mask and empty my mind of all mundane and utterly boring work related issues I've been carrying with me for the last couple of weeks 24/7.
For now, that's all I have to say really. Or maybe I should throw a challenge up in the air. Mick and jULES - the world is holding its breath - we need to hear from you and quick! Maybe a little sauna related column with a twist, anyone?
Right. I'm off for a while but hopefully someone responds to my cry in the wind, who knows...
P.S. This man should be awarded the next Nobel prize. Which category, who cares! Just admire the way he's mastered Wife Beater, the lager....
That was my contribution to lighten the spirits of the blog after the more serious posts by a certain Xinola. Just to quickly summarize the past week: Being really busy shuttling around Southern England and the infamous road to hell - the M25 aka the world's largest parking lot.
The London ringroad (or orbital if you wish) is indeed one of those places you realise that there must be something wrong with the picture when you're sitting there, sniffing the exhaust fumes of about one and half million other vehicles and wondering" why am I doing this?". So nothing new really, just work and accumulating frustration and stress of which not all travelling related.
But holidays. There's definitely something to look forward to. Just about the only thing I really want to do for the first few days is to stare the underwater world through the mask and empty my mind of all mundane and utterly boring work related issues I've been carrying with me for the last couple of weeks 24/7.
For now, that's all I have to say really. Or maybe I should throw a challenge up in the air. Mick and jULES - the world is holding its breath - we need to hear from you and quick! Maybe a little sauna related column with a twist, anyone?
Right. I'm off for a while but hopefully someone responds to my cry in the wind, who knows...
P.S. This man should be awarded the next Nobel prize. Which category, who cares! Just admire the way he's mastered Wife Beater, the lager....
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Rebelliousness with Dignity, part 2
Here are the images I did not manage to include yesterday.
http://galeria.ezln.org.mx/
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Rebelliousness with Dignity, part 1
These are some images from the EZLN travelling around Mexico.
The Zapatista Army for National Liberation are making the 'Another Campaing' in this year of federal elections in the country. In case you are completely alien to the nasty Mexican politics, the Zapatistas are travelling to the different corners of Mexico talking to and with the people in order to generate some consciousness about the pejorative social conditions (as well as political and economic) of the majority of the Mexicans. This, obviously, affects more the lower classes and the indigenous people of Mexico. As a figure, 60 per cent of the Mexican population live under the line of poverty, meaning that they live under impoverished conditions even within the Mexican standards. If you want more information about this I recommend you to read, but not to rely, on the reports from Mexican governmental agencies. I say this because they have invented a way of measuring poverty which has failed to reflect the facts. I also encourage you to read more the work of Julio Bolvitnik, a Chilean academic who has dedicated his life to develop an all-inclusive humane way to measure poverty in Mexico and Latin America.
The Zapatistas main aim is to fight the ill neoliberalism that the Mexican government has been uncapable of challenge for the sake of the Mexicans present and future. Of course the USA has a big role in impeding the little opposition the Mexican state could have over the neoliberalism which is anyway unstopable. Other aim of the EZLN is to unite more people with their already 12 year official struggle for recognition and rights for racial and social inequality and therefore to gain equality in the country. Their proposal can be found in the website:
http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/especiales/2/
What the nasty politicians of Mexico do, is to destroy each others' (already bad) reputation; try to co-opt voters; and generally lie to the people with fake campaings about the good things they will never do for the progress of the country and its people.
I'll return with the images later because this computer does not allow me to do so...
The Xinola, reporting far away from the land of the rebels, will return before night falls.
The Zapatista Army for National Liberation are making the 'Another Campaing' in this year of federal elections in the country. In case you are completely alien to the nasty Mexican politics, the Zapatistas are travelling to the different corners of Mexico talking to and with the people in order to generate some consciousness about the pejorative social conditions (as well as political and economic) of the majority of the Mexicans. This, obviously, affects more the lower classes and the indigenous people of Mexico. As a figure, 60 per cent of the Mexican population live under the line of poverty, meaning that they live under impoverished conditions even within the Mexican standards. If you want more information about this I recommend you to read, but not to rely, on the reports from Mexican governmental agencies. I say this because they have invented a way of measuring poverty which has failed to reflect the facts. I also encourage you to read more the work of Julio Bolvitnik, a Chilean academic who has dedicated his life to develop an all-inclusive humane way to measure poverty in Mexico and Latin America.
The Zapatistas main aim is to fight the ill neoliberalism that the Mexican government has been uncapable of challenge for the sake of the Mexicans present and future. Of course the USA has a big role in impeding the little opposition the Mexican state could have over the neoliberalism which is anyway unstopable. Other aim of the EZLN is to unite more people with their already 12 year official struggle for recognition and rights for racial and social inequality and therefore to gain equality in the country. Their proposal can be found in the website:
http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/especiales/2/
What the nasty politicians of Mexico do, is to destroy each others' (already bad) reputation; try to co-opt voters; and generally lie to the people with fake campaings about the good things they will never do for the progress of the country and its people.
I'll return with the images later because this computer does not allow me to do so...
The Xinola, reporting far away from the land of the rebels, will return before night falls.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Bodyish Art
The first image was taken during this weekend in Venezuela
For matter of space I had to choose between two images taken in Helsinki in 2002
For more intallations see: http://www.spencertunick.com
For matter of space I had to choose between two images taken in Helsinki in 2002
For more intallations see: http://www.spencertunick.com
Friday, March 17, 2006
Ethical Dilemma
Today I was giving a seminar and ask to the students to help me with an ethical problem I have with my work. In summary my problem regards the anonymity of one important character in my research. This is a politically and economically powerful man from my particular researched town, and he who holds a public office at the federal level. I do preserve the anonymity of all my informants, but he has not been my informant and he is constantly criticized as the exploiter of the town. Many comments and suggestions were provided during the seminar, however one of them said exactly what I have done:
"Keep the anonymity of the good people and give the names of the evil ones" (maybe not exactly in these words, but that was the idea).
Obviously that was said just for the laugh, but yet it shows our basic desires to do that constantly instead of following ethical codes that sometimes are far fetched.
This is something so common in people's lives or do you disagree?
On an everyday basis we meet good, not so good and few evil persons. Maybe among the evil ones there will be some with mental problems who are not aware of the damage they may cause to others, but the hell, they still hurt others without giving a shit. Among those we have the psychotic people.
That is the case of one of my colleagues here, who belongs now to those called 'the weird ones'. In my working place, they do call those who are mad, bad, twisted as weird. Is that fair? Does that actually make justice to their acts and the consequences? I really don't think so, and along with me there are many more who agree, but still just live with the consciousness of calling them weird people and never inviting them to their social gatherings. Yeah, right. Meanwhile, the 'weirdos' remain around causing damage.
On the other hand, damage, deviance is much needed. I am not claiming that I want a perfect environment which does not exist anywhere. Who would we talk about? Laugh about? Those are needed, so we rather suffer under their tyranic evilness than not.
Amazingly, when we see them in the corridor or passing by the offices, we say hi, and we even respond to few favors every now and then. That is my case with one particular 'weird person', who is an older unscrupulous woman. She is my boss, and just patronizes me at leisure and bores me most of the time. Although she is an old person and has gained some wisdom through her life, she has also gained many vices which surely were encouraged by her earlier peers and colleagues who never ever told her off.
You see, all this is a fucking sick social vicious circle in which few or none stands for the best of the rest. This happens commonly here in the UK. Only in individual cases one may stand for its own rights, claim to the offender and so on. As well, in extreme cases the group will stand for the problem against the 'weird' if s/he has cause way too much damage, but just until then.
There should not be much hope on the rational capabilities of human beings, which is what I see as the problem in places like here. We should also think that someone is actually evil, twisted and/or emotionally tormented and therefore fully incapable of seeing what is best for itself and the rest. For this, there are so many infinite examples which I cannot put here. Freaking ethical codes.
"Keep the anonymity of the good people and give the names of the evil ones" (maybe not exactly in these words, but that was the idea).
Obviously that was said just for the laugh, but yet it shows our basic desires to do that constantly instead of following ethical codes that sometimes are far fetched.
This is something so common in people's lives or do you disagree?
On an everyday basis we meet good, not so good and few evil persons. Maybe among the evil ones there will be some with mental problems who are not aware of the damage they may cause to others, but the hell, they still hurt others without giving a shit. Among those we have the psychotic people.
That is the case of one of my colleagues here, who belongs now to those called 'the weird ones'. In my working place, they do call those who are mad, bad, twisted as weird. Is that fair? Does that actually make justice to their acts and the consequences? I really don't think so, and along with me there are many more who agree, but still just live with the consciousness of calling them weird people and never inviting them to their social gatherings. Yeah, right. Meanwhile, the 'weirdos' remain around causing damage.
On the other hand, damage, deviance is much needed. I am not claiming that I want a perfect environment which does not exist anywhere. Who would we talk about? Laugh about? Those are needed, so we rather suffer under their tyranic evilness than not.
Amazingly, when we see them in the corridor or passing by the offices, we say hi, and we even respond to few favors every now and then. That is my case with one particular 'weird person', who is an older unscrupulous woman. She is my boss, and just patronizes me at leisure and bores me most of the time. Although she is an old person and has gained some wisdom through her life, she has also gained many vices which surely were encouraged by her earlier peers and colleagues who never ever told her off.
You see, all this is a fucking sick social vicious circle in which few or none stands for the best of the rest. This happens commonly here in the UK. Only in individual cases one may stand for its own rights, claim to the offender and so on. As well, in extreme cases the group will stand for the problem against the 'weird' if s/he has cause way too much damage, but just until then.
There should not be much hope on the rational capabilities of human beings, which is what I see as the problem in places like here. We should also think that someone is actually evil, twisted and/or emotionally tormented and therefore fully incapable of seeing what is best for itself and the rest. For this, there are so many infinite examples which I cannot put here. Freaking ethical codes.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Arghhh!
Laziness, the ultimate vice. This is the category under which I'm willing to place myself regarding blog updates. On the other hand, I've been busier than ever at work and to return to the ever-popular topic of job-bashing, today I thought of letting some steam out again.
Before getting into any further, I'll make a little disclaimer that yes, I do know that I'm not the only one nor the last one experiencing these things, but that does not make me feel any better so here goes...
Responsibility. Key word for anyone who wants to make any headway in their career. You gotta take more of it on all the time if you wish to get anywhere. This I understand but at the same time feel like the employers are conniving bastards who want to take every single drop of sweat you're capable of squeezing out for them.
I've been given so many new responsibilities lately that it's outrageous. Do I want them? To an extent yes but not as many as I've been given. I simply have started stressing about work which I thought to be an impossibility for me, until now. Do I get anything out of this? Not really, unless you count in the experience gained in trying to make things work. Once again, herein lies the paradox; how far am I prepared to go without being compensated for it? My situation will not allow for any bargaining as I was made to believe that I was lucky to survive the acquisition last summer so now I'm supposed to take all the crap they pour on me without a hitch. Right. You see now where I'm coming from?
Anyway, maybe I'll one day say that it was a good thing after all and paid off. On the other hand, I really have no faith in such thing happening right now. Maybe Xinola is right, we should just bugger off somewhere warm and nice and run a guest house or something and say goodbye and fuck off to this miserable corporate world. Time will tell...
I have been a little bit upset about reading news from my hometown recently. The main employer (an international forestry and paper giant) is about to lay off 120 workers (over 3000 globally) for competitiveness reasons and another important employer has just done the same for 43 employees. Now this may not sound like much but my hometown has just 20.000 inhabitants and it will definitely cause a shock for many families. I feel for them, I really do.
At the same time I read from media that some well-known shareholders of this very same forestry company have just made tens of thousands of euros since the announcement was made and the shares rocketed. It's kinda weird isn't it? I know that they have invested their money into the company by buying the shares but it's only the people who have enough money to buy enough shares to make anything out of them that come accross with such profits. This is the modern way - shareholder is the king. It is being said that in the modern free market economy there's always someone who loses and someone who wins. Need I say more...
Blah, getting angrier by the minute so I guess should just give up. To finish up with a positive note, there's only three more weeks and it is holiday time!!!
Before getting into any further, I'll make a little disclaimer that yes, I do know that I'm not the only one nor the last one experiencing these things, but that does not make me feel any better so here goes...
Responsibility. Key word for anyone who wants to make any headway in their career. You gotta take more of it on all the time if you wish to get anywhere. This I understand but at the same time feel like the employers are conniving bastards who want to take every single drop of sweat you're capable of squeezing out for them.
I've been given so many new responsibilities lately that it's outrageous. Do I want them? To an extent yes but not as many as I've been given. I simply have started stressing about work which I thought to be an impossibility for me, until now. Do I get anything out of this? Not really, unless you count in the experience gained in trying to make things work. Once again, herein lies the paradox; how far am I prepared to go without being compensated for it? My situation will not allow for any bargaining as I was made to believe that I was lucky to survive the acquisition last summer so now I'm supposed to take all the crap they pour on me without a hitch. Right. You see now where I'm coming from?
Anyway, maybe I'll one day say that it was a good thing after all and paid off. On the other hand, I really have no faith in such thing happening right now. Maybe Xinola is right, we should just bugger off somewhere warm and nice and run a guest house or something and say goodbye and fuck off to this miserable corporate world. Time will tell...
I have been a little bit upset about reading news from my hometown recently. The main employer (an international forestry and paper giant) is about to lay off 120 workers (over 3000 globally) for competitiveness reasons and another important employer has just done the same for 43 employees. Now this may not sound like much but my hometown has just 20.000 inhabitants and it will definitely cause a shock for many families. I feel for them, I really do.
At the same time I read from media that some well-known shareholders of this very same forestry company have just made tens of thousands of euros since the announcement was made and the shares rocketed. It's kinda weird isn't it? I know that they have invested their money into the company by buying the shares but it's only the people who have enough money to buy enough shares to make anything out of them that come accross with such profits. This is the modern way - shareholder is the king. It is being said that in the modern free market economy there's always someone who loses and someone who wins. Need I say more...
Blah, getting angrier by the minute so I guess should just give up. To finish up with a positive note, there's only three more weeks and it is holiday time!!!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Sports and all
Woohoo. I'm finally writing again. Saying that, I feel like there's very little to celebrate. I've been ill with a cold for a good two and half weeks and it is really starting to piss me off big time. Maybe after the weekend I'll feel better, maybe not. Time will tell.
Anyhow, it's once again time for the winter olympic games and this time in Torino. Being a Finn I guess it must be passed along in the mother's milk that at least to certain extent you just have to be watching sports, and in particular winter sports. Makes sense, if you remind yourself that winters in Finland are rather long and summers, well they usually make an attempt to arrive just to realise that it's already time to go before the fun really begins. This may be a slight overstatement but you get the picture.
Winter, nevertheless, offers a variety of sports possibilities and pastimes. Take skiing for example, Finns have never really been interested in alpine skiing as a competitive sport before the last few years. I'm tempted to blame this on the older generation who simply can not understand that you can call something like that a sport where you are being taken up the slope by machinery and come down using the force of gravity.
Most of us who have tried alpine skiing know that this is not the case but you have to remember that crosscountry skiing is a whole different story altogether. It's said to be one of the most demanding endurance sports there are and for a reason. Last time I was on a pair of x-countries was probably in the army during my national service and that's a shame, for it really is one of the best forms of exercise you can do.
This dichotomy should not prevail and it appears that alpine skiing is finally gaining some respect (not to mention snowboarding, freestyle skiing and, of all mother earth's things, curling!). This is largely thanks to two or three successful skiers who have finally brought Finnish alpine skiing to the top. Today, it appears that first Finnish alpine skiing medal has become reality. I rest my case. Did I forget to mention there are no mountains in Finland?
Now curling, there's a weird 'sport'. I'm not sure if I'm too old-fashioned to call it a sport. Sure, you need good skills to throw the stone accurately and good arms to swipe the ice clean in front of the sliding stone. But a sport?
Hype is currently the closest thing I'd use to describe the interest curling has raised over the last few days. Finland is in the olympic final against Canada and almost 1.7 million people are expected to watch this on telly. Traditionally, only ski jumping or ice hockey get such figures.
Just to create a little more contrast, Canada has one million people curling players whereas Finland has one thousand and yet, they are in the olympic final. Man, something's truly wrong or maybe 'Uusis' really is the coolest man on the planet (Finland skipper). Madness, but hey it's all good albeit I don't see people actually getting fit doing this.
Ok, that does it for the day. I still feel quite ill and fed up with my job but that's a different story so until then, adios.
Anyhow, it's once again time for the winter olympic games and this time in Torino. Being a Finn I guess it must be passed along in the mother's milk that at least to certain extent you just have to be watching sports, and in particular winter sports. Makes sense, if you remind yourself that winters in Finland are rather long and summers, well they usually make an attempt to arrive just to realise that it's already time to go before the fun really begins. This may be a slight overstatement but you get the picture.
Winter, nevertheless, offers a variety of sports possibilities and pastimes. Take skiing for example, Finns have never really been interested in alpine skiing as a competitive sport before the last few years. I'm tempted to blame this on the older generation who simply can not understand that you can call something like that a sport where you are being taken up the slope by machinery and come down using the force of gravity.
Most of us who have tried alpine skiing know that this is not the case but you have to remember that crosscountry skiing is a whole different story altogether. It's said to be one of the most demanding endurance sports there are and for a reason. Last time I was on a pair of x-countries was probably in the army during my national service and that's a shame, for it really is one of the best forms of exercise you can do.
This dichotomy should not prevail and it appears that alpine skiing is finally gaining some respect (not to mention snowboarding, freestyle skiing and, of all mother earth's things, curling!). This is largely thanks to two or three successful skiers who have finally brought Finnish alpine skiing to the top. Today, it appears that first Finnish alpine skiing medal has become reality. I rest my case. Did I forget to mention there are no mountains in Finland?
Now curling, there's a weird 'sport'. I'm not sure if I'm too old-fashioned to call it a sport. Sure, you need good skills to throw the stone accurately and good arms to swipe the ice clean in front of the sliding stone. But a sport?
Hype is currently the closest thing I'd use to describe the interest curling has raised over the last few days. Finland is in the olympic final against Canada and almost 1.7 million people are expected to watch this on telly. Traditionally, only ski jumping or ice hockey get such figures.
Just to create a little more contrast, Canada has one million people curling players whereas Finland has one thousand and yet, they are in the olympic final. Man, something's truly wrong or maybe 'Uusis' really is the coolest man on the planet (Finland skipper). Madness, but hey it's all good albeit I don't see people actually getting fit doing this.
Ok, that does it for the day. I still feel quite ill and fed up with my job but that's a different story so until then, adios.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Confession: Couldn't resist the temptation
Honestly I was not planning to write anything about this, but the hell, I started elsewhere and this space will not be the exception. Amen.
Yes, it is about St. Valentine's Day. Well, this day really does not matter much to me, although the media's influence and the selling of 'The Best Ever Break-Up Songs' and Tesco Value roses, or the Student Union's roses, affect the people's pockets in the island. Mieheni barely looked at me when I told him this morning 'Happy Valentine's Day', and I thought that such would be the most effort I will put into this 'tradition'. Come on, I even had the radio off to avoid hearing to all sorts of stories and songs and things about the day. But few minutes ago, I turned the radion back on.
Indeed, all changed when the first thing that appeared in my computer screen, and I literary mean that it appeared, one email from my father... There is always someone out there who will remind you about those things you bitterly want to forget about; not because you are lonely or unlovable, but because those things have acquired other meanings for you. And because simply, I like to complicate everythinggggg.
Anyway, what my father reminded me, once again, is that it doesn't matter what i think of this day. In his normal casual ways, he described how he, my mother and siblings went to celebrate the day in advance on a Sunday brunch. Yes, they went to the nice buffet place that Nygard likes. Ah, yes, dad also said that he and mom will go today, again, out for brakfast. Later, I received a text message from my boss and friend, reminding me about the date.
So that's it? Shouldn't this insanity stop here? Should I move on with my day and begin working on the outline of the last chapter of my thesis? Or should I be part of this imaginary chain? Yeah, I will be today's prophet, my own of course, but just for today.
So far I have written an email to my siblings, cousin, aunt, uncle and his partner. My grandad, other aunt and mother don't read emails, although they like chatting with me in the msn every now and then. But because the family are the people who most likely would expect me to write them on this day, I decided to write to my best friends and even attach a silly photo of mine, why not?
Lastly, I made my confession here with all the intensions of making you part of the same thing. Whatever happens after this, it will not be my responsibility, but what you decide to make of it. Just as I did.
Yes, it is about St. Valentine's Day. Well, this day really does not matter much to me, although the media's influence and the selling of 'The Best Ever Break-Up Songs' and Tesco Value roses, or the Student Union's roses, affect the people's pockets in the island. Mieheni barely looked at me when I told him this morning 'Happy Valentine's Day', and I thought that such would be the most effort I will put into this 'tradition'. Come on, I even had the radio off to avoid hearing to all sorts of stories and songs and things about the day. But few minutes ago, I turned the radion back on.
Indeed, all changed when the first thing that appeared in my computer screen, and I literary mean that it appeared, one email from my father... There is always someone out there who will remind you about those things you bitterly want to forget about; not because you are lonely or unlovable, but because those things have acquired other meanings for you. And because simply, I like to complicate everythinggggg.
Anyway, what my father reminded me, once again, is that it doesn't matter what i think of this day. In his normal casual ways, he described how he, my mother and siblings went to celebrate the day in advance on a Sunday brunch. Yes, they went to the nice buffet place that Nygard likes. Ah, yes, dad also said that he and mom will go today, again, out for brakfast. Later, I received a text message from my boss and friend, reminding me about the date.
So that's it? Shouldn't this insanity stop here? Should I move on with my day and begin working on the outline of the last chapter of my thesis? Or should I be part of this imaginary chain? Yeah, I will be today's prophet, my own of course, but just for today.
So far I have written an email to my siblings, cousin, aunt, uncle and his partner. My grandad, other aunt and mother don't read emails, although they like chatting with me in the msn every now and then. But because the family are the people who most likely would expect me to write them on this day, I decided to write to my best friends and even attach a silly photo of mine, why not?
Lastly, I made my confession here with all the intensions of making you part of the same thing. Whatever happens after this, it will not be my responsibility, but what you decide to make of it. Just as I did.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Future will be great!
This post obviously shouldn't be here, considering the previous post. But here goes anyway, it's too good to give it a miss... and besides, I would not have money to buy this anyway.
I've been expecting for things like this for long and finally, it seems, vision becomes reality (apologies to Nokia's marketing team from whom the sentence is borrowed from).
Beer, the ultimate beverage, and the Japanese. Now, here we have an equation that can't go too badly wrong (unless you're a Japanese having drunk a few too many) if you think about future. The samurai warriors have come up with an ingenious invention that I wish will decorate my living room one day. Just look at it - refridgerator space for six cans of beverage of your choice, and an automatic pouring system delivering the perfect glass with a nice head every time at a push of a button (though I'd like to see it try and pull a perfect pint after a good old shakeup trick).
Ahh, the future will not be too bad after all as technology is coming to meet the social demand of us beer drinkers to the dot. Hence, us beer drinkers need to stick together always. Who knows what's waiting to come out from the pipeline!
Typing's making me thirsty. Hmmm... wonder what I should drink to quench this thirst?
[via Oh Gizmo]
I've been expecting for things like this for long and finally, it seems, vision becomes reality (apologies to Nokia's marketing team from whom the sentence is borrowed from).Beer, the ultimate beverage, and the Japanese. Now, here we have an equation that can't go too badly wrong (unless you're a Japanese having drunk a few too many) if you think about future. The samurai warriors have come up with an ingenious invention that I wish will decorate my living room one day. Just look at it - refridgerator space for six cans of beverage of your choice, and an automatic pouring system delivering the perfect glass with a nice head every time at a push of a button (though I'd like to see it try and pull a perfect pint after a good old shakeup trick).
Ahh, the future will not be too bad after all as technology is coming to meet the social demand of us beer drinkers to the dot. Hence, us beer drinkers need to stick together always. Who knows what's waiting to come out from the pipeline!
Typing's making me thirsty. Hmmm... wonder what I should drink to quench this thirst?
[via Oh Gizmo]
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Sad World We Live In
This is a quite accurate depiction of today's world. A British stencil artist Mantis has managed to capture the essence of contrasting worlds in a very touching way. Need or want, you decide?
I've nothing more to say.
[via Gizmodo]
Monday, January 30, 2006
Little Bird Flying
This is the bull named Pajarito, Little Bird weighting 503 kilos. It jumped towards the sitting area of the Plaza Mexico, in Mexico City, just seconds after it entered the bull fighting ring. The poor thing injured six persons and created terror in the arena. Pajarito was killed asap and the bullfight continue for the pleaseure of the rest of the blood thirst audience. Ole!
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2006/01/30/
Friday, January 27, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Techno Thriller, part 1.
I just tried to add the Opera Mini browser button to the blog unsuccessfully. First, let me just say that if you want to consider using www through your mobile phone, this is the best place to start - all you need to do is to open your phones native browser and enter mini.opera.com and the app will be downloaded and installed in minutes. The best part is that the software is fully free, you only pay for approximately 100kb of data for the download.
Once installed, this little marvel will render most websites readable and fully enjoyable using Opera's own server. This means that your data charges will be reduced significantly as the server reduces the size of the website to accommodate your mobile phone's screen. Mini should work on most of the java-enabled handsets out there. I've used the browser mostly for testing purposes and have to say that it is definitely good and fast to use.
Secondly, I'm quite disappointed at myself for failing miserably trying to add the button on the right sidebar. I guess it should show there but my purpose was not to move the whole bloody bar like that. Maybe someone who actually knows html could advise on where do I add the script. Another lesson learned: do not attempt to do things that you have no clue about without consulting with more capable people first.
So, if you're interested in mobile internet and want the best possible surfing experience, look no further. Note to self: I should definitely stick to the things I know something about.
Until someone fixes the blogs appearance, my apologies to all.
Once installed, this little marvel will render most websites readable and fully enjoyable using Opera's own server. This means that your data charges will be reduced significantly as the server reduces the size of the website to accommodate your mobile phone's screen. Mini should work on most of the java-enabled handsets out there. I've used the browser mostly for testing purposes and have to say that it is definitely good and fast to use.
Secondly, I'm quite disappointed at myself for failing miserably trying to add the button on the right sidebar. I guess it should show there but my purpose was not to move the whole bloody bar like that. Maybe someone who actually knows html could advise on where do I add the script. Another lesson learned: do not attempt to do things that you have no clue about without consulting with more capable people first.
So, if you're interested in mobile internet and want the best possible surfing experience, look no further. Note to self: I should definitely stick to the things I know something about.
Until someone fixes the blogs appearance, my apologies to all.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Just another day...
As with so many previous posts, today's one will most likely be full of complaining, bitching and nearly relentless repetition of old jokes. Here's just a little recap to start with: I should have been more explicit in my previous post about my year 2005. Now one might come accross reading it like a list of things I managed to waste my little money on. This was not the intention, honestly. It is funny, nevertheless, that most of the things that really sprang to mind in the process of writing it were more or less what some more educated people might call consumer commodities. It does go without saying that we all suffer from the same fetish but at least it was not my intention to come accross like a bourgeois pig.
Blah, I shouldn't really care about that but wanted to get that off my chest.
If you're one of the more observant kind, you might notice that this post is, once again, written during the glorious corporate working hours. I gladly take any opportunity to use the time they pay me for to do all things random, such as blogging. Now, and please don't laugh, this is serious, this kind of behaviour can be seen as tactical action against my employer - using their time and their means of production for my own good (?) purposes. I believe a certain continental philosopher actually called this something like 'la perruque' - the wig (this is the time when the more observant ones will once again realize that I've lost the plot). Obviously any tactical action taken will always be only a part of a grander strategic goal and this is the question I, indeed, pondered upon: What and where are my strategic goals in life?
So far, I've managed to leave behind the safe haven provided by the family and the Finnish state. All the tactical actions I have taken until now have taken me to my current situation (yes, I know, this is self-evident) but at no point has it become clearer where will these choices take me eventually. Moreover, I'm not alone anymore making all the decisions that might affect the strategic outcome. The equation is just getting more complicated all the time and my inside tactical centre is getting more confused. Where will we end up eventually, who knows...?
Hell with this! I need gadgets and trips abroad!!! Speaking of which, Granada was rather nice. Should not come as a great surprise that one of the main attractions there was the local drink and food. The great thing about Granada is pretty simple: show up in one of the many nice bars, order a beer and get a free snack to go with it. Yes, that's right, you still get a free snack of great Andalucian variety (paella, chorizo, olives, omelette, etc) with a beer. A word of warning though, or two. The Granadians can be a bit tricky so always check your bill before paying and keep a track of how many canas (a small glass of beer) you have ordered. Secondly, if you spend more that four days, be prepared to be craving for something else to eat. As good as it is, there are limits for everything. In sum, a nice city with gorgeous mountain scenery, the great Alhambra fortress and good tapas (food).
I'll be back - as I keep promising...
Blah, I shouldn't really care about that but wanted to get that off my chest.
If you're one of the more observant kind, you might notice that this post is, once again, written during the glorious corporate working hours. I gladly take any opportunity to use the time they pay me for to do all things random, such as blogging. Now, and please don't laugh, this is serious, this kind of behaviour can be seen as tactical action against my employer - using their time and their means of production for my own good (?) purposes. I believe a certain continental philosopher actually called this something like 'la perruque' - the wig (this is the time when the more observant ones will once again realize that I've lost the plot). Obviously any tactical action taken will always be only a part of a grander strategic goal and this is the question I, indeed, pondered upon: What and where are my strategic goals in life?
So far, I've managed to leave behind the safe haven provided by the family and the Finnish state. All the tactical actions I have taken until now have taken me to my current situation (yes, I know, this is self-evident) but at no point has it become clearer where will these choices take me eventually. Moreover, I'm not alone anymore making all the decisions that might affect the strategic outcome. The equation is just getting more complicated all the time and my inside tactical centre is getting more confused. Where will we end up eventually, who knows...?
Hell with this! I need gadgets and trips abroad!!! Speaking of which, Granada was rather nice. Should not come as a great surprise that one of the main attractions there was the local drink and food. The great thing about Granada is pretty simple: show up in one of the many nice bars, order a beer and get a free snack to go with it. Yes, that's right, you still get a free snack of great Andalucian variety (paella, chorizo, olives, omelette, etc) with a beer. A word of warning though, or two. The Granadians can be a bit tricky so always check your bill before paying and keep a track of how many canas (a small glass of beer) you have ordered. Secondly, if you spend more that four days, be prepared to be craving for something else to eat. As good as it is, there are limits for everything. In sum, a nice city with gorgeous mountain scenery, the great Alhambra fortress and good tapas (food).
I'll be back - as I keep promising...
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Bring it on!
I know I have a tendency to complain about most things I encounter in my life, so this should be refreshing change: the year 2005 was actually not too bad!
It didn’t really seem to have such a hot start, though. In the first hours of 2005 I was alone in my flat in Jakarta, drinking the Christmas leftovers of some truly awful cheapo vodka.
From then on, however, things got much better. I spent a couple of months travelling in Southeast Asia, without even catching malaria. Hurray!
After I returned home from my holidays I had a letter waiting for me. It was a “thanks-but-no-thanks” reply to a job application I had posted before my travels. Well, alright then, I’ll find something else, I thought. But then the phone rang and the same people who had sent the rejection were now asking if I was interested in working for them, something else had come up that would suit me, they said. So, here I am now, quite enjoying the job I didn’t really even apply for.
Not so much changed in my personal life last year. I still keep on living in sin with my lovely girlfriend, which is nice.
I still judge people for little faults that I’m totally happy to allow for myself. But that just humane isn’t it. And if not at least it’s good fun. And if there is one thing we should do this year is bring back the fun in fundamentalism!
So, a good year it was. Not all sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, but enough of each to keep me going. Now I’m ready for the new year, so bring it on! If it’s as good as the last I have no fear.
It didn’t really seem to have such a hot start, though. In the first hours of 2005 I was alone in my flat in Jakarta, drinking the Christmas leftovers of some truly awful cheapo vodka.
From then on, however, things got much better. I spent a couple of months travelling in Southeast Asia, without even catching malaria. Hurray!
After I returned home from my holidays I had a letter waiting for me. It was a “thanks-but-no-thanks” reply to a job application I had posted before my travels. Well, alright then, I’ll find something else, I thought. But then the phone rang and the same people who had sent the rejection were now asking if I was interested in working for them, something else had come up that would suit me, they said. So, here I am now, quite enjoying the job I didn’t really even apply for.
Not so much changed in my personal life last year. I still keep on living in sin with my lovely girlfriend, which is nice.
I still judge people for little faults that I’m totally happy to allow for myself. But that just humane isn’t it. And if not at least it’s good fun. And if there is one thing we should do this year is bring back the fun in fundamentalism!
So, a good year it was. Not all sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, but enough of each to keep me going. Now I’m ready for the new year, so bring it on! If it’s as good as the last I have no fear.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Another year gone, what's next?
He-hey, we're back. Now that it's new year and all, I've seen a few blogs with a listing of things from the year gone and for the year to come and I thought that why the heck not. My listings, however, are not exhaustive and conclusive, on the contrary. I can only list things from last year that I remember and want to remember and what comes to predicting the year to come - I'll leave that to Madam Marie and other professionals and stick to less educated guesses and dreams myself...
Things from my 2005:
- Three pairs of socks thrown away as toes started to make their way out from the wrong end.
- Several hundred cans of lager (mostly XXXX as it's often the cheapest but also Carling and Foster's) have found their fizzy way in to my body leaving the good old rex ethyl in action before leaving the body behind in slightly, well at least a little, different form .
- Few angry and pathetic posts about boredom at work and market capitalism in this 'blog', which was started this year as well
- Moved from my old desk in the office to new one (bigger and better, hurray!)
- Got rid of my old Nokia 6600 (my first S60 handset, what a great piece of engineering)
- Replaced 6600 with N70, need I say more?
- Some guitar strings replaced
- Still trying to learn how to play the 'Tele'
- bought a car (my first ever actually)
- two days of corporate hospitality (No, I'm still not brainwashed)
- A couple of trips:
Budapest - nice city with reasonable prices and excellent thermal baths
Lake District (UK) - beautiful scenery and decent hiking, too many tourists though
Yllas, Lapland (not the home of the lapdancing) - Family occasion with plenty of good skiing and great weather. (Xinola's first ever ski trip!)
A couple of shorter visits to Finland to meet family and friends
Champagne, France - Nice little extended weekend in good company and some fizzy drinks.
- Some people were also kind enough to visit us here. Thanks to all those who made it.
- Went ice skating after a seven year break (great fun!)
- Struggling with the cold climate and an old victorian house (ongoing).
- New decent music found. Great and not so great films watched
- Going to theatre in London for the first time.
Things to look forward in 2006:
- A trip to Granada
- A holiday in Mexico and maybe a visit to Finland
- Spring
- Summer and the World Cup!
- Xinola's thesis finished
- Moving to a new house?
- hopefully more visits from friends and family
Things to be afraid of in 2006:
- Gas bill
- George W. Bush's administration and all neo-con/neo-liberalist policies of our current realm (ongoing from several previous years around the globe)
I think that'll do for now but I'll be amending my lists as I remember more things. Now, I think it's time to put some Flaming Sideburns on, they rock!
Things from my 2005:
- Three pairs of socks thrown away as toes started to make their way out from the wrong end.
- Several hundred cans of lager (mostly XXXX as it's often the cheapest but also Carling and Foster's) have found their fizzy way in to my body leaving the good old rex ethyl in action before leaving the body behind in slightly, well at least a little, different form .
- Few angry and pathetic posts about boredom at work and market capitalism in this 'blog', which was started this year as well
- Moved from my old desk in the office to new one (bigger and better, hurray!)
- Got rid of my old Nokia 6600 (my first S60 handset, what a great piece of engineering)
- Replaced 6600 with N70, need I say more?
- Some guitar strings replaced
- Still trying to learn how to play the 'Tele'
- bought a car (my first ever actually)
- two days of corporate hospitality (No, I'm still not brainwashed)
- A couple of trips:
Budapest - nice city with reasonable prices and excellent thermal baths
Lake District (UK) - beautiful scenery and decent hiking, too many tourists though
Yllas, Lapland (not the home of the lapdancing) - Family occasion with plenty of good skiing and great weather. (Xinola's first ever ski trip!)
A couple of shorter visits to Finland to meet family and friends
Champagne, France - Nice little extended weekend in good company and some fizzy drinks.
- Some people were also kind enough to visit us here. Thanks to all those who made it.
- Went ice skating after a seven year break (great fun!)
- Struggling with the cold climate and an old victorian house (ongoing).
- New decent music found. Great and not so great films watched
- Going to theatre in London for the first time.
Things to look forward in 2006:
- A trip to Granada
- A holiday in Mexico and maybe a visit to Finland
- Spring
- Summer and the World Cup!
- Xinola's thesis finished
- Moving to a new house?
- hopefully more visits from friends and family
Things to be afraid of in 2006:
- Gas bill
- George W. Bush's administration and all neo-con/neo-liberalist policies of our current realm (ongoing from several previous years around the globe)
I think that'll do for now but I'll be amending my lists as I remember more things. Now, I think it's time to put some Flaming Sideburns on, they rock!
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